Three months had passed since the tumultuous Imperial Capital Martial Arts Tournament.
　Summer had come to this country.

　My room in the dormitory with the windows open.
　I sit down on my bed and look at the letter I received.

Is it from someone from the mansion?　Dear Seika.

　Yuki, who was on my shoulder, looked down at the letter and asked me that.
　She can't read this one yet.

'Oh.'

　I nod.

"It's from your father.

Don't say that. I owe Blaise a debt of gratitude.

　Especially the fact that I was given a private room for the nobility in my dormitory.
　I'm really grateful to be able to talk to Yuki and spread out my spellcasting tools.

　Yuki said as she regained her composure.

''Then what kind of content was it, so?　Do you want me to show my face on this holiday?

　Just like Yuki said, the school was just on summer vacation.
　Many students return to their parents' house during this period.
　But last year I had to stay in the dormitory for one reason or another. There was no point in going home, and I didn't want to go on a long carriage ride.
　I've gotten used to the turbulence now, but it's still exhausting.

　But this letter was not an invitation to return home.
　I shook my head and replied, "No.

I shook my head and replied, "No. I'm not. No, they want you to go check on the dragons.
Dragons, sir?
Yeah.

　I explain to Yuki, who looks doubtful.

I've heard that the former capital of Astiria is a city where people and dragons live together. I've heard that a huge dragon is nesting in a nearby mountain, and the city is completely surrounded by its territory. In the past, the city and its guards fought off thieves and enemy armies.
"Law.

　Yuki replies with unusual interest.

'Come to think of it, Yuki is also a demon (ayakashi) who lives with people, and I suppose that's what happens. So what's wrong with that dragon?
I've been having some trouble with him lately.
What do you mean by funny?
They've started attacking people and occasionally attacking livestock.
M.....

　Yuki makes a gesture of twitching her head.

''Well I think that's more or less normal. A dragon, when it's hungry, will attack the fattest beast at hand.
''No, this monster is much more like an animal, but it's still an incarnate species. As long as the magic of the land is sufficient, they should be able to survive just like demons without eating.

　From what I've read in the literature, it seems that way.
　I continued.

I continue, "I'm sure the Astyrian dragons have never attacked a beast before. "I'm sure they've never attacked a beast before. That's probably why the residents of the city are so confused.
'Huh...'

　Yuki gives a distracted reply.

　But the fact that a fierce beast, which you thought you had tamed, bared its fangs at you is a common occurrence.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

So, why is Seika-sama investigating this?
Simply put, you're making sure you have your beasts of prey under control.

　And I say, "Well, dragons are the most powerful monsters in the world.

"Dragons are among the most powerful monsters in the world. "Dragons are the most powerful monsters in the world," he says, "and if such a being is showing signs of disquiet, it's not just a problem for Astoria. If they were to fly over here or something, the empire could suffer greatly as well. So we're going to check the area and investigate to determine the threat.
Since when did you, Lady Seika, become a bureaucratic errand boy?
Not true. Blaise asked me for a favor.

　I explain.

"To begin with, it was the Astyrian Senator who requested it from my father, not the Imperial bureaucracy. "To begin with, this investigation was commissioned by the Astyrian senator, not by the Imperial Council, but by the members of the Astyrian Senate, who decided it would be better to send an emissary to investigate the situation before they were prodded by the Imperial Council. And they turned their attention to your father, who was a well known researcher.
Isn't it usually the politicians you call in, not the researchers?
If you owe a politician a debt, he or she may ask you for something in return later in Parliament. Besides, even the governor, who is resident in Astiria, would not like to be visited by political enemies. In that respect, your father is distancing himself from politics, and furthermore, the report will be academically compelling. It was something that was convenient. I'm often in Teito for academic conferences, so it's easy for me to get in touch with him.
The politics of mankind are very complicated, aren't they?

　Yuki muttered in disgust.
　I've never talked about politics in my past life because I didn't care about it either.

　And if you read a little more into the Astirian side of things, you will see that the other side probably already has a solution to the dragon problem.
　The other side probably already has a solution to the dragon problem.
　Otherwise, a request to investigate would just be digging a grave.

　Then Yuki says something unexplained.

'But Yuki still doesn't understand why that young man would ask Seika-sama to do something like this, but....... The current Seika-sama is just a student in his position, right?
That's because I'm the only one with time on my hands, right?
Yes?
'Think about it. Your father himself is busy, and Luft is busy learning the work of his lord. Glai can't move from the garrison, and his relatives are all busy with their own work and estate management anyway. On the other hand, I'm a student on summer vacation and there's no sign of me going home. I'm a student, and I'm on summer vacation, and I'm a bored person with no sign of returning to my parents' house for a month.
Yes........is that the reason?
It will sound better if you tell him he's in good hands, though, because he's the best student in the school and has won the martial arts championship. He was the top student in the school and even won the martial arts competition.

　You're just too good at it.
　You might want to rein it in a bit, for goodness sake.

And what are you going to do?　If you're going to live discreetly, I'm afraid I'd have to decline such a request.
No, I'm coming.

　I answered immediately, despite the fact that I had been thinking that I should hold back.

You're right," he said, "but I wanted to see the other country, and it's a lot better than being told to go back to the territory. It's much better than being asked to return to your territory. And I'm also curious about the dragons.
"...isn't that the whole reason for the last one?

　Yuki says with half an eye.

'Seika-sama please be moderate.
What?
Your taste is all well and good, but may we ask that you exercise discretion. You will not spend three whole days in a basement, as you did in your previous life, experimenting on yourself, and then be mistaken for a missing person.
I know, I know.

　I responded with a wave of my hand.

　Aside from the study of witchcraft, experiments in natural science and biology seem to Yuki to be my hobby.
　It's true that it's like a hobby, but... it's quite useful.


****


So I'm going to the kingdom of Astoria for the summer.

　The dining room at lunchtime.
　I told Yifa, Amu and Mabel sitting at the same table.

I'm sure you'll find the investigation of dragons to be quite interesting. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world. Can I follow you?

　I'm stunned by Amu's normal response.

What are you talking about? You were supposed to go back to your parents' house tomorrow.
I'm not too far from Rodnea, so I can go home in the spring.
'Don't say that. You should see your family when you can.
I don't know if you're being heavy or light but I will. I've already ordered a carriage.
Yes, sir.

　And Mabel raised a small hand.

'I have no plans. I can carry heavy things. I'll even leave the guards to you.

　Mabel looks at me like she wants to go, and I'm dumbfounded again.

"You have plans,
...?
"Study.
....!
Are you sure you're keeping up with my assignments?　If you can't keep up with your classes in the new semester, you'll be studying again.
Yes, I'm trying to digest...

　I add to Mabel, who looks away as fast as she can.

"And why don't you just go home now?　Maybe my parents are waiting for me.
Well, I'll do it.

　I saw Mabel nodding, and then I turned to Yifa, who seemed to be itching for something.

I'm not going to be able to get out of it.
What?
It's going to be a long journey, and it's going to take a lot of time off, so I'm not saying it's impossible.
I'm coming!　I'm going!　...Haha, I thought you were going to say no to me too.
I'm sure they'll forgive you for one of your squires.

　And then I feel a little bad about that.
　If I don't leave, Yifa can't just go home. I'm sure she wants to see her father too, and I felt guilty for preventing her from doing so.
　Yifa's father is even busier than Blaise, so I don't know if I'll be able to see him when I get home.

'So, when are you leaving?'
The plan is for it to be the day after tomorrow.
It's a little fast.
'It's going to take me a while to get around. I only have a month of summer vacation, and I'm in a hurry.
Have you taken the carriage yet?
No, they're supposed to arrange it.
Over there?
He's a big man in Astoria.

　I explain.

"He was just in the capital, and he's coming back to Rodnea to pick up some supplies. So we'll be able to get a convoy to Astoria.
"Convoy,

　Amu raises an eyebrow.

'That's quite an exaggeration. If we're going to be on the streets, we shouldn't have to worry about field robbers and monsters.'

　Indeed, Amu is right, if you're just going on the main road, even a merchant corps (caravan) can only string together a few guards at most.
　The imperial roads connecting distant cities are essentially military roads to move troops around efficiently. Monsters are regularly eliminated for safety reasons, and wild thieves don't go near them.
　However, things were a little different this time.

''It can't be helped. That person's position is their position.''
...?
The great men of Astoria are actually...

　Just then, a murmur could be heard from the back of the dining room.
　The voice of a conspicuous person with a loud voice entered my ears.

I'm sure this is the place. Thank you for showing me around. However, it's very simple.......mmm, is that so? But if the building is old, why don't you just rebuild it?
"Young
No, pardon me. Never mind what I've just said. 'Do?　Oh, he's the one. Thank you. Now we can go on our own, Lizzy. Let's just be on our own now, Lizzy. ... hmm?　What's going on?　I can't wait for you to come.

　I turned around as a rustle and a presence came closer.
　There was a boy in a luxurious formal dress.

　He was in his late teens at the time. With his well-formed appearance and graceful demeanor, you can tell that he is of noble blood.
　He must also serve as an escort. The tall, sharp-eared sub-race woman standing beside him seemed to be quite the messenger.
　The cause of the buzz would obviously be these two eye-catching people.

　Eh, no way.....

　The boy opens his mouth with a smile as I am taken aback.

Hi. I'm sure you're Sir Seika, isn't it?

　I freeze for a moment.
　But eventually I regain my composure, stand up, and spit out an aristocratic salutation with a smile.

'How nice to meet you. It's a pleasure to meet you. Your arrival is earlier than expected, Prince Cecilio Astiglia, Your Royal Highness.

　Behind me, I can hear the girls whispering.

'....Who is that?
"Prince," he said.

　I said with a tight smile.

"I would have come to you even if you hadn't been able to make it here. I apologize for the somewhat inappropriate place to receive His Highness, the first prince of the Astyrian kingdom.
Good. I coerced a member of the academy to show you the way.

　When he said that, the prince smiled pleasantly.

It's not that there's any urgency, but I wanted to take a look at the Imperial Magical Academy on my way to see you. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say.

　Prince Cecilio trailed off.
　His eyes are fixed on Yifa, who is crouched in the seat next to me.

What is your name?
'What?　

　The prince poked his knee in front of a stiff eefa and took the girl's hand and said with eyes that seemed to be buoyed by heat.

''How beautiful are you ... would you like to come to my rear palace (harem)?''

　Huh?